GOLGOTHA, THE PLACE OF JESUS' CRUCIFIXION: 🔥DEMYSTIFIED🔥

GOLGOTHA, THE PLACE OF JESUS' CRUCIFIXION:

🔥DEMISTIFIED🔥

INTRODUCTION;

First of all, I want to emphasise that we are continuing our systematic study on our main theme: "DISCOVERING THE HISTORICAL AND PROPHETIC PORTRAIT OF THE LIFE OF JESUS ​​CHRIST." Within the framework of this theme, we seek to understand the historical and prophetic significance of Jesus' earthly life, which we consider, according to our faith, to be both fully human and fully divine.

As diligent readers of the Bible, we know that the entirety of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, speaks of Jesus. However, in this study, we will focus specifically on his earthly life, that is, the life he lived as a man on earth, from his birth, his childhood, and his ministry to his arrest, trial, condemnation, death, resurrection, and ascension.

THE OBJECTIVES OF OUR MAIN THEME:

This study will allow us, first, to discover the authentic history of Jesus' earthly life as told in the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), and then to understand the true religious and prophetic significance of his life on earth.

ABOUT THIS TEACHING:

In this lesson dedicated to the sub-theme entitled "Golgotha, the Place of Jesus' Crucifixion," I invite you on a narrative journey to discover with me the place where Jesus was crucified, called Golgotha ​​in the Bible, as well as some important truths concerning this place, often unknown to the general public. Please note that this topic follows the second part of our main theme, "The Crucifixion of Jesus."

Read this teaching carefully to the end, especially if you are a preacher of the Gospel. It contains a great deal of historical information, unknown to many Christians, concerning the place called Golgotha ​​in the Bible.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS LESSON:

As promised in the second part of our teaching on "THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS," we will focus exclusively on Golgotha ​​and examine all the events in detail to discover with you the historical, prophetic, and religious context of everything that happened on the hill of Golgotha ​​two thousand years ago, concerning the crucifixion of Jesus.

In this teaching on the theme "GOLGOTHA, THE PLACE OF JESUS' CRUCIFIXION,"

I address several points, including: the true meaning of the word GOLGOTHA, the origin of the word "Calvary," which often replaces "Golgotha" in most versions or translations of the Bible. The word "Calvary" does not appear in the original texts; only the word "Golgotha" is present there. And why did the evangelists deliberately omit the original Aramaic name and translate it as "Calvary"?

Throughout this teaching, I also address the question of the geographical location of Golgotha, its authenticity as the place of the crucifixion, its historical context, and the reason why Jesus was crucified in that specific location.

I conclude this lesson on Golgotha ​​by discussing the religious and prophetic significance that the Church, the body of Christ, attributes to this emblematic place of Christianity.

WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES US HISTORICALLY ABOUT GOLGOTHA:

“GOLGOTHA, THE PLACE OF JESUS' CRUCIFIXION” For 2000 years, it has been an emblematic place of Christianity, because it is there that Jesus was crucified, that his blood was shed for the salvation of humanity, and that he was put to death by the Romans.

“HERE IS WHAT THE GOSPELS TELL US”

IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 27:33-34

33 When they came to a place called Golgotha ​​(which means “Place of the Skull”), 34 they offered him wine mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 After they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots.

IN THE GOSPEL OF MARK 15:17

22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha, which means “Place of the Skull.”

IN THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 23:33

When they came to the place called Golgotha, they crucified him there, along with the two criminals, one on his right and the other on his left.

IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 19:17

“Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place called the Place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).”

WHAT IS GOLGOTHA?

Meaning of the name Golgotha: The word "Golgotha" etymologically comes from the Aramaic "gulgoltha," which means "Place of the Skull." It was then translated into Greek (Γολγοθᾶ) as "Golgotha," which also means "Place of the Skull." Aramaic is the Semitic language spoken by the Jews, including Jesus, in his time.

In the Bible, "Golgotha" refers to the place of Jesus' crucifixion.

The English name for this place, "Calvary," derives from the Latin word "calvaria," which means "skull." It was first used in Jerome's Bible, called the Vulgate, to designate the "place of the skull." This is the explanation given in the four Gospels for the Aramaic word gulgoltha (transcribed Γολγοθᾶ (Golgotha) in Greek), which was the name of the place where Jesus was crucified.

WHERE DOES THE WORD "CALVARY" COME FROM?

By studying the etymological origin of the word "Golgotha," we understand that "Golgotha" comes from Aramaic and means "Place of the Skull." My question, in this biblical study, is the following: where does the word "Calvary" come from, which often replaces "Golgotha" in most Bible translations? For your information, the word "Calvary" does not appear in the original writings; only the word "Golgotha" is present there. And why did evangelicals deliberately omit the original Aramaic name and translate it as "Calvary"?

To help you understand the origin of the word "Calvary" and why evangelicals deliberately replaced the word "Golgotha" with "Calvary" in most of their versions of the Bible, this question first leads us to ask: "Calvary" — and in what language? And also, in what language was the Bible written?

Here is my answer to these questions: first of all, it is important to know that a large part of the Bible, particularly the Old Testament, was originally written in Hebrew and Aramaic, while the New Testament was largely written in Greek and partly in Aramaic. The word "Calvary" is therefore a Latin translation of the word "Golgotha," which can be translated as "place of the skull" in most modern languages.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THE WORD "CALVARY"

How did we go from "GOLGOTHA" to "CALVARY"? How did this change in terminology occur?

Here is the historical context of the word "Calvary" and its origin.

First of all, it is important to note that the Vulgate, considered one of the oldest versions of the Bible, is the Latin translation, compiled notably by Saint Jerome at the end of the 4th century AD. It should be noted that Saint Jerome was a Catholic monk.

In other words, around the 4th century AD, Jerome, a Catholic monk, took the initiative of translating the entire Bible into the dominant language of his time,Latin. His translation was the first in the history of Christianity, because before his time, the Word of God, which we now call the Bible, existed in only three languages: Aramaic, Hebrew, and Greek. These are the three main languages ​​in which the original texts were written by their authors.

It is important to note that most of the authors of the Bible did not speak our modern languages. Therefore, when they wrote, they were forced to use the languages ​​of their time. However, over time, human languages ​​evolved, and at a certain point, Aramaic, Hebrew, and Greek were no longer spoken.

The Bible therefore had to be translated into an influential and widely spoken language. In Jerome's time, this language was Latin, which was the dominant language and also the language of intellectuals. This prompted Saint Jerome to take the initiative of translating the entire Bible into Latin, the main language of his time, so that everyone could read and understand it. This Bible, entirely translated into Latin, was called the Vulgate, also known as Jerome's Bible.

In this Latin translation, the Vulgate, which is Jerome's Bible, the word Golgotha ​​is translated as "calvariae locus," meaning "place of the skull." In his translation, Jerome initially relied on the Latin term "calvaria," which literally means "skull," and this word, Calvary, was later lexicalized or recognized in several dictionaries as meaning

"place of the skull."

It is from this Latin translation that the popular expressions "it is a Calvary" or "to cross a Calvary" also derive. For most biblical scholars, these expressions refer to the Passion of Christ and, more specifically, to the place of his death on the cross.

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF GOLGOTHA:

If we examine ancient maps of Palestine, where was Golgotha ​​located? Where exactly was it? Inside or outside the city of Jerusalem?

It is important to know that in Jesus' time, Golgotha ​​was primarily the hill just outside the walls of ancient Jerusalem, where the Romans executed those condemned to death. Jesus was also crucified there.

According to Jewish belief and tradition, we can therefore conclude that this place was certainly outside the city of Jerusalem, because, in accordance with Jewish and Roman customs 2,000 years ago, executions took place outside the city walls. Therefore, Golgotha ​​must have been located outside Jerusalem. As for its name: since the time of Jesus, this place has been commonly called Golgotha, or "Place of the Skull," as mentioned in all the canonical Gospels.

THE AUTHENTICITY OF THIS PLACE (GOLGOTHA):

According to the biblical account, all four Gospels explicitly mention this place in the account of Jesus' crucifixion, thus confirming that it was indeed the place where Jesus was crucified and died. You can consult the following passages to verify this:

Matthew 27:33; Mark 15:22; Luke 23:33; and John 19:17.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THIS PLACE: GOLGOTHA:

What was the historical context of this iconic place? In other words, what makes Golgotha ​​a unique and memorable place in the Bible? According to the Bible, the word Golgotha, in the Gospels, refers to a hill located outside Jerusalem, a place of execution commonly used by the Romans for those condemned to death, as recorded in the Bible.

WHY ONLY GOLGOTHA?

The biblical text does not indicate the precise reason

why Golgotha ​​was designated as the site of Jesus' crucifixion, but several theories have been put forward:

The first hypothesis is that Golgotha ​​was a place of public execution; the second is that Golgotha ​​was a place where the victims' skulls were buried (which is contrary to Jewish funerary traditions, but not to Roman ones). Indeed, the Jews did not abandon bodies to decompose by the roadside; they always took the time to bury their dead, and even a criminal was entitled to a proper burial according to their customs and traditions.

A third hypothesis suggests that the name "Golgotha" originates from a nearby cemetery (which corresponds to the two modern sites proposed by recent archaeological discoveries). A fourth hypothesis suggests that the name "Golgotha" derives from the physical shape of the site, which resembled a skull, which would be more consistent with the use of the word in the singular, namely "skull."

SPIRITUALLY AND PROPHETICALLY,

WHAT DOES GOLGOTHA REPRESENT FOR CHRISTIANS?

Spiritually and prophetically, Golgotha ​​represents three things. First, it symbolizes the place where our enemy Satan and his works were defeated, which corresponds to the place of our victory and deliverance. Second, Golgotha ​​represents the place of crucifixion, death, and burial of our old nature, which represents human flesh, often described in the Bible as humanity's greatest enemy. Jesus sacrificed his flesh for us to give us dominion over the flesh and its desires, amen. Third, Golgotha ​​represents the place of the humiliation of Satan and his demons, for it was there that he was greatly and publicly humiliated by Jesus, who triumphed over them, amen.

On the cross of Golgotha, Jesus delivers us in two ways: first, outwardly, from Satan, demons, and the forces of evil that weigh on us. He defeated and triumphed over them publicly, as Scripture affirms, on the cross of Golgotha. Second, he delivered us from ourselves by nailing to the cross his flesh, which represents our human flesh full of malice and capriciousness that opposes the things of God within us. Thus, he freed us from ourselves and from the powers of the devil so that we might be fully free in him.

EPHESIANS 6:12

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in the heavenly realms.

THE PLACE OF VICTORY (OF DELIVERANCE)

Spiritually and prophetically, Golgotha ​​represents above all the place of victory and deliverance for us, for it is there that the devil and his demons were defeated by Jesus Christ. When we think of Golgotha, we think of the victory and deliverance that Jesus offered us on the cross.

Golgotha ​​is like a battlefield, and on the hill of Golgotha, Jesus Christ defeated Satan and his weapons, and gave us victory over Satan, evil, demons, and sin. We can now live in complete freedom in Jesus, for we are no longer slaves; that which condemned us has been nailed to the cross of Golgotha. Amen, amen, we are completely free and delivered.

COLOSSIANS 2:14 (KJV)

He has blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that condemned us and that remained against us, and has annulled it by nailing it to the cross.

Before dying, among his last words, Jesus declared, "It is finished." This means that Golgotha ​​is the place where the devil was defeated by Jesus. Let us therefore remember our victory and deliverance in Christ, which we obtained there.

JOHN 19:30

After receiving the wine and vinegar, Jesus said, "It is finished." Then, bowing his head, he gave up his spirit.

THE PLACE WHERE OUR OLD SELF WAS BURIED:

According to the biblical account, Jesus offered himself on the cross of Golgotha ​​as a sacrifice for the salvation of humanity, to restore our authority over Satan, demons, sin, and the works of the flesh, so that we could live godly, healthy, and free lives in Christ.

Golgotha ​​is the place where the flesh and its desires were nailed to the cross, condemned, put to death, and buried. This process, which leads to new life, is very important for new believers, for it is written that we died with Christ and were buried with him through baptism. Thus, Golgotha, as a place, means "place of the skull," which can also refer to a burial ground, since people were brought there to be killed and buried. This place also served as a cemetery for many crucified people.

Therefore, to save humanity from sin and the condemnation that results from it, Jesus offered his flesh, which represents human flesh, to be crucified, to die, and to be buried on Golgotha. Therefore, to be truly children of God, the process of salvation requires that we first pass through the hill of Golgotha, that we crucify the flesh and its passions, in order to live fully for Jesus.

And if you have not yet gone through this process—that is, if you have not yet gone to Golgotha ​​to crucify the flesh and its passions—it means that you are still carnal Christians who continue to live according to the desires of your flesh. But true Christians are those whose flesh and bodily desires, that is, their old nature, are crucified, dead, and buried on the hill of Golgotha, the place of the skull, which prophetically and spiritually represents the burial and interment of the old self.

ROMANS 6:4-5

4 Therefore, we were buried with him by baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall also be united with him in a resurrection like his.

ROMANS 6:8

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

1 PETER 3:21

This water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you too—not the removal of bodily impurities, but the promise of a good conscience toward God. He saves you through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

EPHESIANS 4:17-24

17 Therefore I say to you and urge you in the Lord: Do not live as the Gentiles do, wandering in the futility of their minds. 18 Their minds have been darkened and they are alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them and the hardness of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to debauchery, to work every kind of impurity with greed. 20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard him and have been taught in him according to the truth that is in Jesus, 22 that you put off the old self which is being corrupted according to the deceitful desires, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new self, which has been created in the image of God in true righteousness and holiness.

THE PLACE WHERE SATAN SUFFERED HUMILIATION:

According to the biblical account, Jesus was accused by the Jews and condemned by the Romans, but the real instigator of his condemnation was the devil himself and his entire kingdom.

The devil saw Jesus descend to earth, wanting to take advantage of the situation to take revenge on him, because he had been cast out of heaven and had failed in his battle against Michael and his angels.

REVELATION 12:7-12

7 Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought too. 8 But they were not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, the one who deceives the whole world. He was cast out to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, “Now have come the salvation, the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, the one who accuses them before our God day and night, has been thrown down. 11 They have overcome him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives to the death. 12 Therefore, rejoice, you heavens and you who live in them! But woe to the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, full of fury, knowing that his time is short!”

So, in his plan of revenge, he had long planned, through the religious leaders of the time, to have Jesus executed, but he was simply waiting for the opportune moment, because time did not permit him to do so before the time predetermined by God himself.

MATTHEW 26:4

Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the courtyard of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4 and they plotted to arrest Jesus by deception and put him to death.

JOHN 7:30

Therefore they sought to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him, because his hour had not yet come.

For he is filled with malicious hatred, as are his sorcerer servants, who are also imbued with it. His plan was to inflict on Jesus the same humiliation he had suffered in heaven billions of years before.

Therefore, he manipulated the crowd and the religious leaders of the time so that Jesus would be executed on the cross, the most agonizing and shameful death of that time, because dying on the cross represented an immense public humiliation, a death traditionally inflicted on bandits, criminals, and traitors in the Roman Empire.

Dying on the cross greatly damages a person's reputation, and Jesus was placed on the same level as the bandits and criminals of the time by suffering such a death. Moreover, he was crucified, as the Scriptures attest, alongside other criminals.

This is how the devil wanted to humiliate and destroy Jesus, to show him that he was the master on earth. But unfortunately, he was mistaken in his calculations, for God transformed Jesus' humiliation into infinite glory. In return, it was the devil who was profoundly humiliated with all his might, for he was completely defeated, along with all his demons and weapons. Jesus, whom we call the victor of Golgotha, triumphed over the ancient serpent, the devil, and this time, he was defeated forever. Amen, amen.

Thus, Golgotha ​​prophetically became the memorable place where Satan and his armies were profoundly humiliated by Jesus, the King of kings.

COLOSSIANS 2:15

He disarmed the powers and authorities and made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

HEBREWS 2:14

Since the children share flesh and blood, he also shared the same, so that through his death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,

CONCLUSION:

We can conclude, regarding this place called Golgotha, often also called the "Mount of Calvary" by most evangelicals, that it was probably a small hill or rocky mound where the Roman Empire executed its criminals, bandits, agitators, and traitors, and where Jesus, the savior of the world, was also crucified and suffered the most tragic and shameful death in the history of humanity. Ultimately, he saves us and delivers us from sin and all the powers of the devil. Amen.